Liott



(No Model.)

I. E. ELLIOTT. v

P. No. 338.048. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. E. ELLIOTT.

GAR STEP.

No. 338,048. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

l I E I I l ;j; go 5 I J NITED STATES ATENT GFFICE.

FRANCIS EUGENE ELLIOTT, OF UNITED STATES ARMY.

CAR-STEP.

EPEGIPICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,048, dated March16, 1886.

Application filed January 23, 1886. Serial No. 189,498. (No model.l

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS EUGENE EL- L'io'rr,of the United StatesArmy,nowstationed at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AdjustableOar-Steps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which formpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a perspectiveView of the invention attached to the fixed steps of a car. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective view of one of the angle-irons forming part of theframe of the movable step attached to the fixed step. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of one of the plates upon which the frame of themovable step pivots. Fig. 4. is a detail, partly sectional, view of theconnect-ion of said plate and one of the angle-irons. Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view through the journal of an angleiron upon a plate. Fig. 6shows detail views of the connection of the foot-board of the movablestep and its frame. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the way in whichthe movable step is turned up on the fixed step. Fig. 8 is a viewshowing one end of a modification of the foot-board.

This invention relates to improvements in car-steps, the object being toprovide an adjustable step having its frame journaled at the ends uponthe fixed step of the car, so that it can be folded up thereon and beout of the way when the use of the fixed step alone is required. By theuse of this step the danger and inconvenience to travelers while gettingoff and on trains are largely diminished. The adjustable step can befitted to any form and size of fixed step.

The invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement ofparts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates an end of a carhaving the platform A attached, which is provided with the usual railingand other fixtures, as shown. These, however, form no part of theinvention, and are therefore not described.

B is a fixed step depending from one side of the platform, and composedof the two vertical parts I) b and the two horizontal parts I) b". At ornear each end of the outer edge of the part b is secured by bolts or inother proper manner a plate, 0, which rests in a recess in the part I),so as to be flush with the upper surface thereof. Each of these plateshas a similar upright, c, of suitable form, which is provided with ajournal-pin, c, the two journal-pins having bearings in the ends of theframe of the movable step hereinafter described.

D is the said frame, composed of the end angle-irons, D, and theconnecting iron or brace D", which has its ends bolted or riveted to theends of the angle-irons, as shown in Fig. 2. Each angle-iron is composedof the two horizontal parts (1 (1, respectively, and the centralvertical part, d", provided near its lower end with a longitudinal slot,(P, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The part (I has near its innerend a proper opening for the journalpin 0 to enter, so that theangle-irons and their brace D can be turned over on the fixed step inthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the parts being constructedof relative dimensions to permit this movement.

The journal-pins are preferably made hollow, and have screws or boltsentering them, the heads of which screws prevent the angleirons fromescaping from their bearings. This construction is shown in Fig. 5. Thepart d of each angle-iron has on its edge a projection, 00, which entersa corresponding recess in the part b of the step and prevents lateralmotion of the movable step when turned down. The parts d have a lengthjust a little less than one-half the breadth of the part b of the stepB, and the standards 0 are. so situated that when the angle-irons areturned down the edges of the parts (1 will rest against the edge of thepart b of the fixed step. Consequently when the angle-irons are turnedup there will be a narrow space between their parts d and the part b ofthe fixed step.

E is the foot-board of the movable step, of proper dimensions to lieupon the lower part of its frame with its edges resting upon the braceor connecting-iron D and the parts d of the angle-irons.

ICO

e are projections which stand inward from the inner edge of thefoot-board near the ends thereof. When the foot-board is in position,these projections incline slightly upward, each projection having ajournal-pin, e, which enters one of the slots d and is prevented fromescaping therefrom by a nut on its outer end.

If desired, the plates 0 may have projections or pins on their lowersurfaces, which projections pass through openings in the fixed step andhave nuts on their threaded lower ends.

When the movable step is turned down, the parts assume the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, except that the foot-board is in theposition shown in Fig. 1. When the movable step is turned up, the partsassume the position shown in full lines, Fig. 7, the foot-board standingbetween the parts d of the angle-irons and the part b of the fixed step.The pins e also fall in the slots d, so that the lower edge of thefoot-board may rest upon the fixed step and be in a more stableposition.

The movable step when turned up is kept in that position by its ownweight.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a passenger-car, thecombinatiomwith a fixed step of ordinary construction secured to the endplatform of a car, of a movable step composed of end angle-irons havingtheir ends pivoted upon standards secured to the lower foot-board of thefixed step, a brace-bar connecting the lower end of said angle-irons,and a foot-board having its ends journaled at its inner edge upon theangle-irons, and its sides and front edges resting upon the angle-ironsand brace-bar when the step is lowered, substantially as specified.

2-. The combination of the step B, secured to the platform A, andcomposed of the vertical parts I) b and the horizontal parts b b, theangle-irons D, pivoted at their upper ends upon standards secured tothepart b connected at their lower ends by the brace-rod D and composed.of the horizontal parts d d and vertical part d, and the foot-boardjournaled, by means substantially as described, upon the parts d of theangle-irons.

3. The combination of the fixed step B, composed of the vertical parts bb and horizontal parts b If, the plates 0, secured to the part b nearthe. ends thereof, and provided with standards a, havingjournal-pins c,the angle- .irons D, composed of the parts d d d, with the ends of theparts d journaled on the pins 0, having the slots d in the parts (1, andthe ends of the parts d connected by the bar D, and the foot-board E,provided with the projections 6, having the journal-pins e, which enterthe slots d so that the foot-board can be turned up and down on theangle-irons, all parts constructed and arranged substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS EUGENE ELLIOTT.

Vi t n esses:

W LLIAM H. B. PAGE, ALcEMoNs P. HILLER.

